Reynella Basket Pressed McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Reynella Basket Pressed McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Happy Super Premium Cabernet Day!

Today was actually meant to be ‘Do Your Tax Return Day’ but the Australian Tax Office (ATO) program crashed so many times I gave up.

I’d heard it was unstable, but there is only so much silent anger you can hurl before you give up.

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Anyway, back to the wine.

I tasted the Shiraz brother to this Cabernet last week and I expected it to be even better. The old Reynella vineyard is the spiritual home of Australian Cabernet after all, with a clone based on a massale selection from the vineyard.

Historically this has been a champion of a wine, too, but I think the Shiraz has its measure this year.

Dark maroon purple, this has a purple, unsweetened fruit pastille nose with ferrous ironstone McLaren Vale Cabernet character of  northern end of the Vale.

Indeed the palate is dark fruited, firm and rugged, a dry and earthen expression that feels heavy and astringent before a warm finish.

This will no doubt live a while and it’s very long, but it feels a bit too hard to be truly beautiful. Drink: 2020-2035: 17.7/20, 92/100+

Details: 14%, Screwcap, $64.99, Sample.
Would I buy it? Not quite. I’d like to drink some as a twenty year old though.
Buy online: Hidden Cellar, Accolade Wines.